Baby Sign Language

Do any of you sign with your baby? I woould like to start and I am wondering how quickly little ones catch on. I can't imagine it being much different than teaching your child how to wave goodbye. I would assume that your level of commitment to signing would have a great affect on your child's receptiveness. Any one have any experiences with baby sign language?

Do any of you sign with your baby? I woould like to start and I am wondering how quickly little ones catch on. I can't imagine it being much different than teaching your child how to wave goodbye. I would assume that your level of commitment to signing would have a great affect on your child's receptiveness. Any one have any experiences with baby sign language?

I did sign language with my first dd and really liked it. By the time she was 1, she knew probably 5 signs. The important ones are milk, water (or juice if youre giving juice), more, and all done.I've been trying to sign milk as much as I can remember to. Once I start solids I'll sign more an all done.I've heard some say it slows their speach, but that was SO NOT true with my dd. She was always a great talker.Have fun!

I did sign language with my first dd and really liked it. By the time she was 1, she knew probably 5 signs. The important ones are milk, water (or juice if youre giving juice), more, and all done.I've been trying to sign milk as much as I can remember to. Once I start solids I'll sign more an all done.I've heard some say it slows their speach, but that was SO NOT true with my dd. She was always a great talker.Have fun!

Babies don't begin to understand words, whether spoken or signed, until approximately 9-12 months of age. Just like with spoken language, though, if you want them to understand sign language you should start signing to them now. My husband and I have been signing to Elliott since birth, although we only sign to him sporadically throughout the day, whereas we speak to him constantly, so I'm not sure we're doing enough.

Babies don't begin to understand words, whether spoken or signed, until approximately 9-12 months of age. Just like with spoken language, though, if you want them to understand sign language you should start signing to them now. My husband and I have been signing to Elliott since birth, although we only sign to him sporadically throughout the day, whereas we speak to him constantly, so I'm not sure we're doing enough.

---
mother to Elliott, born May 27, 2010 and Oliver, born March 30, 2012

From:
atheistmama

To: sissaleighyahoocom

Posted: Nov-13 06:21 PM (4 of 9)

Sign language definitely does not slow their speech. It's another language and just like teaching them two spoken languages at once doesn't slow their acquisition of either one, neither does sign language slow spoken language. I've been reading books on infant/child language development while my son sleeps and babies learn sign language the same way they learn spoken language. The reason they can sign before they can talk is because their vocal cords lengthen out around one year of age which enables them to make more complex sounds and begin speaking.

Sign language definitely does not slow their speech. It's another language and just like teaching them two spoken languages at once doesn't slow their acquisition of either one, neither does sign language slow spoken language. I've been reading books on infant/child language development while my son sleeps and babies learn sign language the same way they learn spoken language. The reason they can sign before they can talk is because their vocal cords lengthen out around one year of age which enables them to make more complex sounds and begin speaking.

---
mother to Elliott, born May 27, 2010 and Oliver, born March 30, 2012

From:
SFmommyJune

To: bfraz85

Posted: Nov-14 08:41 AM (5 of 9)

We started signing with Jake when he was about 2 months old. He's 5.5 months now and obviously is not signing yet, but we wanted him to get a head start. I've read that they don't start actually signing and understanding until around 9 mos. at the earliest.

I only use about 5 signs: milk, sleep, cat, more, mama. Milk and sleep are signs that are used very often!! They also sign at the daycare that LO goes to.

The American Sign Language website is a great resource. It has videos of the the signs. I might get some DVDs later.

We started signing with Jake when he was about 2 months old. He's 5.5 months now and obviously is not signing yet, but we wanted him to get a head start. I've read that they don't start actually signing and understanding until around 9 mos. at the earliest.

I only use about 5 signs: milk, sleep, cat, more, mama. Milk and sleep are signs that are used very often!! They also sign at the daycare that LO goes to.

The American Sign Language website is a great resource. It has videos of the the signs. I might get some DVDs later.

I have been signing milk to my son everyone I feed him since he was 2 months old. He is 6 months 1 week old now and a few weeks ago he started signing milk to me. He signs milk when he wants something (like out of something) as well as when he wants milk. He does not always sign and I have to watch to see it. I have started to sign out to him when he is signing milk but really wants out of something. I also started signing eat to him. The other night we were having a signing argument, I was feeding him his dinner, sweet potato and he did not want to eat, I was signing eat to him and he was signing milk to me, I was saying he had to eat first then milk and he just wanted milk and just kept signing milk!

I have been signing milk to my son everyone I feed him since he was 2 months old. He is 6 months 1 week old now and a few weeks ago he started signing milk to me. He signs milk when he wants something (like out of something) as well as when he wants milk. He does not always sign and I have to watch to see it. I have started to sign out to him when he is signing milk but really wants out of something. I also started signing eat to him. The other night we were having a signing argument, I was feeding him his dinner, sweet potato and he did not want to eat, I was signing eat to him and he was signing milk to me, I was saying he had to eat first then milk and he just wanted milk and just kept signing milk!

I have the book Baby Signs which says they don't really start making the connection between words and events and signs until 9-12 months, but we're starting to use a few so WE get used to using them! We're starting with more, all done, hungry/food, milk, and sleep. It's a great book, I'd highly recommend it! They say the reason for the terrible twos (which really starts before age two) is a frustration with not being able to communicate what they want or need.

I have the book Baby Signs which says they don't really start making the connection between words and events and signs until 9-12 months, but we're starting to use a few so WE get used to using them! We're starting with more, all done, hungry/food, milk, and sleep. It's a great book, I'd highly recommend it! They say the reason for the terrible twos (which really starts before age two) is a frustration with not being able to communicate what they want or need.

Hi, never posted on here before but this is one topic I felt strongly about. With my first daughter I started signing to her at 6 months and at 8 months it clicked. She realized if she signed "more" I gave her more. It was great. At about 15 months she knew almost 200 signs. But for any of you worried that signing will make them slower to talk...it's just the opposite. At 15 months my daughter quit signing and spoke perfectly understandable, complete sentences. Signing helped her to communicate earlier and I believe saved us a lot of frustration.Except....I remember being sick on the couch(like someone kill me now kind of sick) and having her climb on the coffee table in front of me and sign that she wanted some juice. I tried to tell her mommy is too sick...it will have to wait a few minutes. She asked again and added please and thirsty. It was so sad. She knew that I understood what she wanted and was not going to get it. At 9 months it was amazing to have that kind of communication. They have the understanding...just not the vocal ability.As a side note....every kid is different. She was potty trained at 15 months and reading real books before 3. All this would have me patting myself on the back except that she is not my only child. Tried signing with my next baby...he would have nothing to do with it. Would only use about 5 signs and only if i insisted. Hated books and anything academic. Happy to say he is 6 now and has caught up nicely. So....fourth baby...(a girl) is 6 months now. we've started signing with her.We'll see......

Hi, never posted on here before but this is one topic I felt strongly about. With my first daughter I started signing to her at 6 months and at 8 months it clicked. She realized if she signed "more" I gave her more. It was great. At about 15 months she knew almost 200 signs. But for any of you worried that signing will make them slower to talk...it's just the opposite. At 15 months my daughter quit signing and spoke perfectly understandable, complete sentences. Signing helped her to communicate earlier and I believe saved us a lot of frustration.Except....I remember being sick on the couch(like someone kill me now kind of sick) and having her climb on the coffee table in front of me and sign that she wanted some juice. I tried to tell her mommy is too sick...it will have to wait a few minutes. She asked again and added please and thirsty. It was so sad. She knew that I understood what she wanted and was not going to get it. At 9 months it was amazing to have that kind of communication. They have the understanding...just not the vocal ability.As a side note....every kid is different. She was potty trained at 15 months and reading real books before 3. All this would have me patting myself on the back except that she is not my only child. Tried signing with my next baby...he would have nothing to do with it. Would only use about 5 signs and only if i insisted. Hated books and anything academic. Happy to say he is 6 now and has caught up nicely. So....fourth baby...(a girl) is 6 months now. we've started signing with her.We'll see......

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